The *New* Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa Frequently Asked Questions (FEB2004) Part 2

[LoveThatDarnMouse]

I'm in love with GF.

We were 95% satisfied with our visit. The CMs were super friendly (except maybe one I can think of). There were many wonderful things about our stay and our only negative was at check in. I had faxed in my room request several days before. When we got to check it was really early so I didn't expect the room to be ready (about 10 a.m.) They asked for our cell number and said they would give us a call when the room was ready. We figured we'd just hang at the pool until the room was ready then we get a bit organized and head to the parks. At 3 p.m. we still hadn't gotten a call and the kids were exhausted (we left for the airport at 4 a.m.) At this point I knew I was entitled to my room so we all trudged in to lobby and this was when we ran into the not so friendly CM. I only took about 2 minutes of her and asked to speak with a manager. He wanted to put us in a room that had no similarity to what we had requested. I asked what happened to our origninal room and he said something about the marble tile being refinished but that it should be done soon. After discussing it with DH we decided to wait just a little bit longer for the orignal room and the manager said to go have lunch on them and he would call asap. He actually called us just as we headed into Gasparillos (TS restaurants were all closed for lunch at this point) so we ate our lunch and headed right to the room. However, when we got our bill at check-out, the room charge for the lunch had not been taken care of so we had to make a call to get that straightened out. We ended up on the 1st floor of Big Pine Key, room #9108, facing the pool. This was our view.

So in essence, I think we have a new favorite resort. Sorry Poly, GF has won us over.

Any questions?

 

[dingoballs]

LoveThatDarnMouse

What kind of room did you request? And what was the name of the manager you spoke to?

 

[clownfish1452]

So in essence, I think we have a new favorite resort. Sorry Poly, GF has won us over.

Any questions?

I do have a question. Did you have room service and how was it?

Thank You
Sarah

 

[BrianD]

OK, I love and miss the GF!!! I was just messing around on YouTube and started watching some videos of the GF, including one where the family was staying RPC and in a MK View room. All you RPC regulars just stink, I tell you!! OK, you know I'm kidding, but that is my dream scenario for a Disney trip that we will hopefully do some day. By my 40th birthday for sure if not sooner! (Maybe we'd get some "Channing-like" pixie dust for my 40th.

We are supposedly not staying there this December, but I'm not sure I can handle that. We at least need some time there! We'll see...

Anyway, just had to vent and profess my love for my favorite WDW resort.

 

[milkshake]

I hear you Sarah! Keep trying,... someone may have that answer about your room service question yet
Have a great vacation

 

[Lives4Disney]

I do have a question. Did you have room service and how was it?

Thank You
Sarah

Sarah, we've had room service lots of times at the GF. It was great. Usually arrives in about 1/2 hr and is warm and perfect.

Brian - I miss the GF, too and I can't believe we were just at WDW a couple weeks ago. It feels like months. Weird. As for my 40th bday pixie dust....I still get goosebumps when I think about that once in a lifetime megathrill. I hope you get some of that magic on your 40th, too.

Happy planning,

Lives4Disney

 

[milkshake]

Lives4Disney comes through again!

I can't wait for next month... funny though, since I'm reading reviews everyday and here on the board, there are so many mixed reviews. We're also headed to Mexico right after leaving WDW and our wonderful resort there is also getting hit with some harsh reviews here and there. It's also a 5 star resort and like the GF, you pay for service and quality all around. My eyes and ears will definitely be aware this trip around. Reputation means everything to this industry and I hope they listen to all the suggestions and problems everyone has been having. My dealing with Disney so far for this upcoming trip has been pretty good. I hope it continues to live up to it's Magic!

 

[clownfish1452]

I hear you Sarah! Keep trying,... someone may have that answer about your room service question yet
Have a great vacation

I know thanks will just keep trying.

Sarah

 

[clownfish1452]

Sarah, we've had room service lots of times at the GF. It was great. Usually arrives in about 1/2 hr and is warm and perfect.

Brian - I miss the GF, too and I can't believe we were just at WDW a couple weeks ago. It feels like months. Weird. As for my 40th bday pixie dust....I still get goosebumps when I think about that once in a lifetime megathrill. I hope you get some of that magic on your 40th, too.

Happy planning,

Lives4Disney

Thank You for your help.

Sarah

 

[BCV23]

Sarah, we've had great experiences with GF room service as well.

You can also preorder breakfast. There will be a form in your room with standard breakfast offerings, a place to write in special requests and then you check off the half hour time slot during which you want breakfast delivered. You hang it outside you door by 2am and breakfast will be delivered fresh and hot at the appointed time.

 

[Kona*Queen]

Great thread! Sorry if I missed this info, but how far out can the cabanas be booked?

Lives4Disney, please could you tell me if you had your cake delivered to the Grand 1 or did you have to collect it from somewhere?

 

[clownfish1452]

Sarah, we've had great experiences with GF room service as well.

You can also preorder breakfast. There will be a form in your room with standard breakfast offerings, a place to write in special requests and then you check off the half hour time slot during which you want breakfast delivered. You hang it outside you door by 2am and breakfast will be delivered fresh and hot at the appointed time.

Thank You
We really love room service and it is included in the dinning plan so we plan on doing it a lot. Happy to hear it is so easy to call and receive.

Thank You
Sarah

 

[LoveThatDarnMouse]

LoveThatDarnMouse

What kind of room did you request? And what was the name of the manager you spoke to?

We had a GardenView room and had requested 1st floor in Big Pine Key with a view of the pool, refrig, microwave. We got everything we wanted but they had wanted to put us on the 3rd floor further down in that building and it would not have had a pool view. I think it would have been the back of the bar. Don't remember the manager's name which was part of our problem when we had to call back and say "oh, whats his name said he'd comp our lunch". We only remembered that he was from the Bronx and had an accent.

Did not try room service this time around.

Oh, I just thought of another downer. Lots of noise and construction at our building. Was woken up by the noise one morning and sitting out at the main pool was very noisy. Had I known I would have probably asked for another building.

 

[BCV23]

Thank You
We really love room service and it is included in the dinning plan so we plan on doing it a lot. Happy to hear it is so easy to call and receive.

Thank You
Sarah

Room service is 2 TS credits on the regular DDP I think. I do think it is still included on the Platinum plan though.

Happy planning!

 

[hmp2z]

Oh, I just thought of another downer. Lots of noise and construction at our building. Was woken up by the noise one morning and sitting out at the main pool was very noisy.

Were they rehabbing your building? I thought this was supposed to be a "soft" rehab, so it would be quiet? We're checking in this Saturday morning, and I know they're currently rehabbing the building we're in (main building), so I'm concerned about noise issues.

Hmm...

Cheers!
Heather W

 

[marcij]

Last time we were there we had the famous grapefruit cake at the Brown Derby, it was really good and unlike anything we had ever had....a definate must try!

I agree! I don't even like grapefruit that much but loved the cake!

With all of this talk about food, I need to chime in with a reccommendation to not miss Narcoosses. It was hands down the best meal (including desserts) we had last week and we had serveral very good meals at other restaurants. We had very good meals at the Flying Fish, Brown Derby, Kona, and Crystal Palace. The food at Narcoosses was just a step above. The food was more imaginative and just tasted fresher. I had salmon with an orange sauce that was fantastic and my husband loved his crab encrusted halibut. The desserts were also great. I had key lime creme brulee that was just right and one of my daughters had a chocolate dessert with chocolate sauce and real whipped cream that was out of this world. The cake itself was light and tasted like it had just come out of the oven. The best looking dessert though was my husband's cheese cake that came with a white chocolate strip that was printed with images of Sleeping Beauty and Cinderrella dancing with their princes. I promise to try and post a picture of this later.

We love Narcoossees, too. Our food has always been very good and the service as well. That is where we are eating on New Year's Eve. I can't wait!

Lisa -- the pictures from your VR... MAGICAL! I got goosebumps looking at them. Thanks so much for sharing!

 

[Lives4Disney]

Great thread! Sorry if I missed this info, but how far out can the cabanas be booked?

Lives4Disney, please could you tell me if you had your cake delivered to the Grand 1 or did you have to collect it from somewhere?

It was ordered thru GF's private dining and while we were at the dock waiting to board, private dining had already arrived to set it all up. They set the table up with a white table cloth and opened the champagne and just prepared everything so it was perfect.

I have heard that the NEW Grand 1 is even GRANDER.....I heard this so much I wonder if it is called the "Grander 1"....It sounds absolutely beautiful.

Heather, have a wonderful time.

Lives4Disney

 

[dingoballs]

We had a GardenView room and had requested 1st floor in Big Pine Key with a view of the pool, refrig, microwave. We got everything we wanted but they had wanted to put us on the 3rd floor further down in that building and it would not have had a pool view. I think it would have been the back of the bar. Don't remember the manager's name which was part of our problem when we had to call back and say "oh, whats his name said he'd comp our lunch". We only remembered that he was from the Bronx and had an accent.

Thanks DarnMouse. I was wondering if you spoke to the same manager that we did... he just gave us a song-and-dance but didn't try very hard to give us a room in our favorite building, Sago Cay...

 

[dingoballs]

Were they rehabbing your building? I thought this was supposed to be a "soft" rehab, so it would be quiet? We're checking in this Saturday morning, and I know they're currently rehabbing the building we're in (main building), so I'm concerned about noise issues.

Hmm...

Cheers!
Heather W

Have a great trip! Looking forward to reading your TR and seeing some pics!

 

[Kona*Queen]

It was ordered thru GF's private dining and while we were at the dock waiting to board, private dining had already arrived to set it all up. They set the table up with a white table cloth and opened the champagne and just prepared everything so it was perfect.

I have heard that the NEW Grand 1 is even GRANDER.....I heard this so much I wonder if it is called the "Grander 1"....It sounds absolutely beautiful.

Heather, have a wonderful time.

Lives4Disney

Thank you so much! I had no idea there was a new Grand 1?! That would explain why we were told it takes 18 people. DH and I thought the CM just had it wrong with the new booking policy. We also had to book a 2 hour slot ($900 EEK!) through WDW and then contact the marina to reduce it to 1 hour. OMG, we're even more excited now. The CM did tell me to check out the yacht online but as we've done it before a few times, I didn't pay much attention. You have really made my day thank you!